Tewksbury police to host medication takeback

Tuesday

Apr 10, 2018 at 8:07 PMApr 10, 2018 at 8:07 PM

TEWKSBURY — The Tewksbury Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28.

Medications can be taken for disposal to the police headquarters at 918 Main St. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Residents are asked to remove the pills from the prescription bottles and seal them in a plastic “Ziploc” type bag before arriving at police headquarters. No liquids or sharps will be allowed to be disposed. For more information on how or where to dispose of liquid medication or sharps, contact the Board of Health at 978-640-4473.